“The Tibetan issue is the domestic affair of China, and the United States bears no right to interfere,” he added. “Such a move will gravely sabotage China-US co-operation and relations, and will definitely undermine its own interests.”

Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, earlier said Mr Obama met the Dalai Lama “in his capacity as an internationally respected religious and cultural leader”.